Switch stand



F. C. ANDERSON.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLlcATloN FILED ocT. 27, 192|.

l y407.45%. Patented Feb. 2l, 1922.

ATTORNEY p edestals the recess is a web 17 to reinforce this part of the pinion member, ('Fig. 5.) The teeth of this half-elliptical segmental pinion are disposed along its pitch line at right angles to tangents thereof at the respective' tooth locations, according t0 the principles of elliptioal gear design; being as here shown7 so arranged that the middle tooth of the series is on themajor axis, with five teeth symmetrically arranged around therefrom in both directions, with the last of the live close to the minor axis. Succeeding this fifth tooth at each side, is an additional tooth or lug, preferably somewhat heavier than the other teeth, and merging into the untoothed opposite end or heel of the pinion member, which conforms approximately to the circular hubs 18 thereof. To further reinforce the fastening of the pinion member' 17 tov the shaft 16, a round. key 17 is fitted in suitable keyways bored in the shaft and pinion member, along the shaft.

The raclr member 2O coinprises'the flat body 2l with the downward extensions 22 extending from'its middle toward both ends, being highest at the middle and lowest at the ends, and intermediate of these points being curved so that the twelve downwardly projected teeth across the lower faces of these parts follow a pitch line that is a development of a half revolution ofthe pinion member 17 from one horizontal position ofl f time the rack member' will be at its extreme position at one end of the switclrstand. Thus, rotation of the pinion member through 180o will throw the rack member to its extreme opposite position. at the opposite end of the switch-stand. Vertical ribs 23 lengthwise of the middle of the rack member join the flat vbody 2l to the extensions 22. Guidelugs 2a extend forwardly and rearwardly slightly past the front andrear of the exten# sions 22, on the lower side of the body 2l, the ends of these lugs contacting with the 8 Vand 9; and, preferably, slight are formed on the front and rear edges of the extensions 22 to contact with the pedestals 8 and 9 lower down. These lugs 24 and bosses 25 thus guide the rack member laterally. They are located far enough inward from the respective ends of the rack member to maire these contacts with bosses 25 when the member is at either extreme position. On the top of t-he body 2l, near opposite ends, in the middle thereof, guide-lugs 26 entend up, to contact with the tlatunder side of the casing top A12, thus limiting the rise of the rack member from its guideways on the tops of the pedestals V8 and 9 under the slight tilting action of the intermeshing gear parts.V In the modification of Figs. and 7, each lug 2G has a pair of small rollers-26', one at each side, on a transverse pin 26 passing through the lug 26; these rollers bearing against the casing top with less friction .than merely the upper end ofthe lug 26. `Also on top ofthe body 2l are the front-to-rear upstanding jaws 27, parallel and considerably spaced apart equidistant from thefront-to-rear inedian line of the body, in either example.

The target-shaft 28 will be 4understood to be of suitable design in its upper part, to support a target or lamp or othermeans at any required height; and its lower end is threaded, and it has through it,vshort distances up from the lower end, V two trans verse openings. The intermediate crank 29 comprises the hub 30V down through which the target shaft 28 fits snugly; and the arm of the crank has on its front end` thev head 3 projecting down therefrom in cylindrical shape, with an easy fit between the upstanding jaws 27 of the rack member, while the target shaft 28 extends up through and bears in the opening 11 in the casing and the lower part of the hub 30 extends downV into and bears in the base opening 6. The lower end of the hub 30 is grooved transversely, and up a proper distance has the annular flange 32 that rests on the.` floor of thebase around the opening 6, supporting the crank at'the proper height to work easily with'the rack member; while the target shaft 28 is supported in this crank by pins slipped through openings in the hub registering with the before mentioned target-shaft openings, and retained therein bythe rear inner concave wall ofthe segmental extension of the casing. j Y

The direct switch-throwing crank 3i has a hub part extending up into the opening G, with a central threaded opening receiving the threaded lower end of the target shaft 28, and withclutch teeth 35 at opposite sides entering the transverse grooveof the bottom of the hub 30 of the intermediate crank.

VThe crank arm is adjustable radially in lll) the hub part, to vary the throw of the crank fordifferent switches or to compensate for wear in the switch connections; .andconneets to the switch-connecting rod 37 by a pin 38, which is prevented' from rising by a flat rear extension 39 on thebottom of the rear of the base, and by flanges l0 extended down from the bottom of the base, thereun-` der, except at an intermediate position, where it is inserted or removed through a slot 41V in the extension 39 at ,either side of the middle, depending upon which side the crank swings to, This crank construction is fully disclosed and claimed in my second mentioned patent; and the intermediate crank and direct-switch-throwing crank connection is disclosedand claimed Ain my first mentioned patent, as'are the rack, pinion and intermediate crank combination generally, and the construction ot the base and casing asA Vdescribed herein,

` My presentY switch-stand has the intermediate crank of sucli length that consideristering with a bore through the pedestal 9; and a pin 43, short enough to assume a horizontalV position in the depression 42, is slipped forwardly from that position, through the pedestal bore into the shaft bore, with a square head 44 against the back ot the pedestal 9 and lying a slight distance up from. the bottom of the depression A lock-plate 45 has its front end inserted under the headV 44 and inclines up and back against the rear end ot the depression 42, where it will beV held down by the liange 32 ot the cranlr29 when this crank is placed in operative position.

Such arear bearing for the pinion shaft is disclosed andV claimed broadly in my copending application Serial No. 486,166, filed July20, 1921.V Thedescribed intermediatecranlr head 3l is claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 477,228, tiled June 13,1921.. y y Y Y As in all ot myprior patents and applications mentioned, the base has its'ioot-plates B extended forward, with lever-rests 14 thereon7 receiving the handle-level' 14 at either end of a throw of 180; and these footplates have openings 3 reducing their crosssections close tothe front edge of the middle part l `of the base, so they may readily be cut away to make room for latches if the stand is used where these are necessary, as `for main-line use. In yards, latches are not necessary, andare undesirable, owing to the trequent throwing necessary. Switches on main lines arenot frequently run through in the wrong direction 5' but invyards this is a very frequent and-practically unavoidable occurrence, and it is in yards that my invention isl most useful. Elimination ot the latches dispenses with the expense and uncertaintyr of breakable or resilient connections to yield underabnormal strain; but it is necessary to provide against excessive pointrail 4vibration undernormal traiiic in the absence of the latch.V

In the usual` parallel-throw stand, the

-ratiop between the eiective radius of the element. that corresponds to my intermediate crank and the radiusof the pinion member is the controlling factor in calculating the resistance of the handle-lever weight to the rail vibration. The handle-lever length or weight can be varied only within very narrow limits, to be convenient for the switchman and not to impart too heavy blows to the rests when thrown over.

With the well known gear-and-pinion stands, the pinion radius must be just onehalf the radius of the segment-gear radius, to turn the latter 90 with 180 turn ot the pinion. In my prior stands mentioned, using' a rack with a pinion ot uniform radius, and anV intermediate crank, the pinion radius may be reduced to about Yforty-six one-hundredths of the intermediate-crank radius, adding` nearly-10% advantage to the handle-lever weight over the pressure on the rails, as compared .with the gear-and-pinion stands. My present invention takes advantage of the circumstance that the added advantage for the weight' is needed only at the ends ot the throw, andthe ratio is unimportant in the intermediate parts ot the throw. Thus, the radius of the pinion may increase from both ends toward the middle ot' the throw sufficiently` to provide the added rack throw :tor swinging' through 90 an intermediate crank of radius increased enough to provide, in its ratio to the minimum pinion radius, the needed added advantage for the weight at either end of the throw to effectively resist the vibration ot the rails under normal trai'iic. Thus the ratioot 4pinion radius to intermediate-crank radius is no longer iixed and the pinion may have its minimum radius as small as is consistent with proper tastening to its shaft, and the intermediate crank may have its radius as large as is consistent with commercially practical dimensions of the switch-stand, the maximum radius oft the pinion being increased accordingly.

ln the example Vherein illustrated, the maximum radius is to the minimum radius of the pinion as seven to three, which ail'ords a rack throw ot' verynearly live times the minimum pinion radius and permits the intermediate-cranlr radius to be increased so that the minimum pinion radius, at either end of the throw, is very nearly two-sevenths ot the intermediate-crank radius, and the in- -Jtcrmediate-crank radius is about one and one-halt that ot the switch-throwing crank at the indicated adjustment et the latter.

This adds about to the weight advani tage as vcompared with the gear-and-pinion stands, and about 60% as compared with my stands of the prior patents and applications mentioned, i. e., it is equivalent to increasing'the weight ot the handle, or increasing the length of the handle-lever, in those stands, lby the percentages indicated, but without actually increasing either of these in my present invention.

' Although the leverage at the middle of the throw in the present invention is greatly decreased freni that at the ends, the actual increase in length of the intermediate crank so fai' offsets this that the average totalresistance throughout the throw is less than the uniform resistance to the switchmans effort in the prior stands. For instance, averaging the ratios at the several teeth ofthe pinion, the resultant average ratio is nearly greater than the uniform ratio of the unifornrradius pinion, and, conversely, the switclimans eiort to throw a given switch is nearly 20% less. This does not include the .additional advantage that when the weight is being lifted, in the first part of the throw, the leverage is greater, and the decreased leverage occurs only as the lever ap proaclies vertical position, increasingly7 relieving the switchmaii of the effort of lifting the weight which thus is being more and more vsupported by the lever itself.

Also, in ruiming through the switch the wrong way, the ratio is high as to this reverse operation of liftingthe weight, starting it up rapidly under the heavy force of the rolling stock thus forcing the rails over; andthe weight thus acquires heavy momentum to pass completely over and coinpletely throw the switch, with increasing advantage'over the rails in its terminal stage of travel. The wheel flanges push the rails only partly over in such an occurrence, especially if they pass through rather slowly; and my present invention better insures com-v plete throwing ofthe switch, by momentum, than with a uniform-radius pinion. In any device depending upon springs for complete throwing in such cases, weakeningof the spring results in incomplete throwing, and

' breakage of the spring leaves the stand in operative in that respect, as is also the ease with a breakable pin, and neglect to repair the stand may result in a serious accident.

. lVly present switclrstaiid can throw over freely when the switch is run through in the wrong direction, without breakage or dependence upon springs of any kind, and when closed adequately resists vibration of the rails under normal traiiic, and the nor mal manual throwing demands less effort stand thus differing in these respects from.

that ofniy first mentioned application, No.

LSG/,166.11 provide for these diiferences incr/,1511- herein by the locking element 45 between the pin and the crank-hub, and by allowing the flange 32 ofthat hub to ride thereover as described; and by theupstanding guiding means 2,6 on the rack, against the fixed casing top as described, or by the modified means with the rollers 26 acting in a similar manner as set forth herein.

It will be understood that any of theV parts may have their design or dimensions varied, or have equivalents substituted therefor, may be expedient under varying conditions. rtherefore, while certain constructional details are deemed preferable in connection with my invention, and l have shown and described these rather specically-in elucidating the construction and use of my invention, as is required, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to suoli precise showing and description, but having-thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure byV Letters Pat ent is:

l. ln a switch-stand, a base comprising a front-to-rear shaft bearing at its front and a depression to the rear of said bearing, a pedestal to the rear of said depression, a second depression to the rear of said pedestal, a lever with a shaftA in said bearing, a substantially seiiii-elliptical pinion ii'xed on said shaft and lying within the h'rst nientioned depression, a reai bearing pin in said pedestal and extending into saidl sha-ft, a lock-plate in said second depression to contact witlithe rear part of said pin, and incliniiig rearwardly` and upwardly against .the rear end of said depression, a rack member sliding on said pedestal witlifextensions iiiclining down in opposite directionsfrom its middle and having teeth on their inclined bottoms meshing downwardly with said pin ion, the major axis of the ellipse of said pinion being substantially alined with said lever and the end Vteeth of said pinion being substantially near the minor axis ofsaid ellii ne and meshing with, the lower end parts of said rack member at opposite endsrof its throw, a crank turning in saidbascV on an upright axis, to the rear of said second de pression, engaging with said rack member and having a flange over tlielrear upper end of said lock-plate, a top element fixed on said base over said rack member andsaid crank, and an upwardly extended guiding element onisaid rack member to bear up ward on said top element, thereby holding said rack member down onrsaid pedestal, and means for operatively Vconnecting said crank to a switch.

2. In a switch-stand, mechanism comprising a lever and invariable-radius spur pin* ion coaxially connected, a rack meshing with said pinion, annintermediatc crank operatively engaging with saidV rack, a direct ifiorAc/i switch-throwing crank coaxially connected with said intermediate crank, and means operatively supporting said mechanism.

'3. In a switch-stand, mechanism comprising a lever and a substantially seini-elliptical spur pinion coaxially connected, a rack meshing with said pinion, an intermediate crank operatively engaging with said rack, a direct switch-throwingcrank coaxially connected with said intermediate crank, and means operatively supporting said mechanism. Y

a. In a switch-stand, mechanism comprising a lever and a variable-radius spur pinion coaxially connected, with a greater pinion radiusalined with said lever and lesser pinion radii Vatopposite sides otsaid greater radius, a rack meshing with said pinion, an intermediate crank operatively engaging with said rack, a direct switch-throwing crank coaxially connected with said inter-l mediate crank, and means operativelyV supporting said mechanism.

5. In a switch-stand, mechanism comprising a lever and a substantially semi-ellip-v tical spur pinion coaxiallyconnected, with the major axis of the pinion ellipse substantially alined with said'lever and median to the semi-elliptical extent of the pinion, a rack meshing with said pinion, an intermediate crank operatively engaging with said rack, a direct switch-throwing crank coaxially connected with said intermediate crank, and means .operatively supporting said mechanism.

6. In a switch-stand,y mechanism comprisinga lever and a variable-radius spur pinion coaxially connected, a rack member above and, meshing with said pinion, an intermediate crank operatively engaging with said. rack member thereabove, a direct switchthrowing crank Vcoaxially connected with said intermediate crank, a base forming bearing and supporting means for said mechanism and having an opening through which said intermediate crank and said direct switch-throwing crank are connected, a substantially flat-topped open-bottomed casing iittiiig on said base over and around said mechanism, and an upward extension on said rack member tol bear u-p against the under side of'said fiat top of'said casing.

7. In a switch-stand, supporting means, a suitable rack meinberand a lever operatively mounted on said means, a variableradius spur` pinion coaxially connected to` said lever and, meshing with the teeth ot said rack, an intermediate crank directly engaging 'with, said rack member andl having.- a bearing inf said supporting means, and a direct switch-throwing crank coaxial'liy con- Y nected with said; intermediate crank andofl'- set downwardly therefrom. i

8.` In a switch-stand, supporting means, mechanism operatively supported by said (Laia means, comprising a lever and a vaiiableradius spur pinion coaxially connected, a rack member having` teeth meshing with said pinion. an intermediate crank in direct engagement with said rack member, and a direct switch-throwing crank coaxially connected with said intermediate crank and cxtending below the lowest part ot said supporting means toi' connection to switchcoiinecting means therebelow.

9. In a switch-stand, mechanism comprising a lever and a substantially seiiii-elliptical spur pinion connected with the major axis of the pinion ellipse substantially aliiied with said lever, a rack member above said pinion and having extensions on its bottoni inclining down in opposite directions from its middle part with teeth on their bottoms meshing with said pinion, the terminal teeth of said pinion being near the minor axis of the pinion ellipse and meshinglwith respective terminalV teeth of the rack member at opposite ends of the throw thereof, an intermediate crank operatively engaging with said rack member, a direct switchthrowing crank coaxially connected with said intermediate crank, and means operasaid part in both directions from near the middle thereof and having teeth on their adjacent sides.

l2. In a switch-stand, a rackjnieniber having a series of teeth arranged to mesh with a variable-radius pinion rotating around a iixed axis while said Yrack member travels in a substantially straight path.

13. In a switch-stand, a rack member having a series of teeth curving away from :i middle point of said member in both directions and arranged to mesh with a substantially semi-elliptical pinion rotatingf around a iixed axis with its teeth disposed on both sides. oi' the major axis of the ellipse while said rack member travels in a substantially straight path from a, meshing with said pinion substantially at one end oi theu minor axis to a. meshingtherewith substantially atthe other end of said axis.

14.. In a switch-stand, a rack member comprising a main substantiallystraight guiding part with extensions inclining away from vone side in opposite directions from its middle point and having teeth on their adjacent sides, said member having longitu- Y extensions to said main part.

1G. Ina switch-stand, a rack member hav- Y ing a series of teeth arranged to mesh with a variable-radius pinion rotating around a V.fixed axis while said raclr member travels in a substantially straight path, and havingguidingmeans extending therefrom in a direction opposite to that of the extension of said teeth.

f 17. In a switch-stand, a rack member hav-v ing teeth extending from one side and a guiding extension on its opposite side.

18.l In aswitch-stand, a rack member having teeth extending from one side and longitudinally spaced guiding extensions on its opposite side. n.

19. In a switch-stand, a base having a rack support, a rack on said support, operative engaging means on said rack extending away from said support, guiding means on said rack extending past said engaging means, and means fixed on said base and engaging said guiding means to hold said rack toward said support. y

20. In a switch-stand, a support, manipulating means, switch-connecting means, a toothed member operatively connected with said manipulating means, and a toothed member` operatively connected with said switch-connecting means, said members meshing together and both of said members having their teeth arranged in non-circular series.

21. In a switch-stand, a support, manipulating means,-, switch-connecting means, a toothed member operatively connected with said manipulating means, and a toothed member operativelyV connected with said switclrconnecting means, said members meshing together, and one of said members,

being rotary and having part of its teeth farther from its center ofvrotation than others of its teeth.

22. Ina switch-stand, a base comprising a front-torear shaft bearing at its front, a`

lever with a shaft in said bearing, a pinion fixed on said shaft to the rear of said bear" ing, a bearing pin mounted on said base and Vprojecting into said shaft, to the rear of said pinion, a locking element on` said base behind said pin, and means on said base ref taining said locking element.

23. Inra switch-stand, a switch-throwing pinion, bearings for said pinion at both ends ofsaid pinion, one of said bearings being 1 ,frenata Y removable, locking means for this bearing, i

ln'tvinv a recess centrall in'its rear end` a .Y Y D Y J pin extending through said pedestal forwardly into said shaft recess, araclr sliding on said pedestal andmeshing with saidpinion, a crank mounted on an upright axis on said base to the rear of said pedestal and extending forwardly and engagingiwith said rack, and locking means behind said pin, said crank lying against said locking means, thereby limiting backward displacement of said pin from said shaft recess.

25. In a switch-stand, a .base comprising n a front-to-rear shaft bearing atits front and a pedestal near its rear end, a lever with a shaft in said bearing, a pinion fixed on said shaft to the rear of said bearing, said shaft having'a recess centrally in its'rear end, ai pin extending through said pedestal forwardly into said shaft recess, a rack sliding on said pedestal and meshing with said pinion, a crank mounted on an upright axis on said base to the-rear of said pedestal and extending forwardly and engaging with said rack, means to hold saidraclr down on said pedestal, said crank lying behind saidpin 'at therear of said pedestal, and lockingV means retained by said cranlr against 'said pin and limiting backward displacement of said pin from said shaft recess.

26. Ina switch-stand, a switch-throwing pinion, a rack member meshing with said pinion, a support for saidraclr: member, means fixed over andl engaging said rack member and holding said rack member against said support, and bearings for said pinion at both ends ofA said pinion, and switch-connectingv means operatively connected to said rack member under said fixed means.

27.V In a switch-stand, supporting means, a rac-lr member` and a lever operatively mounted on -said means, a pinion-segment coaxially connected to said lever, said rack member having a longitudinal inclined series of teeth and said pinion-segment having teeth to mesh with said raclrteeth for throwing said ra-clr member lengthwise, either one of two of said pinion-segment teeth engaging with corresponding rack` E28. In a switch-stand, a support, manipulating means, switch-connecting means, and mechanism permanently connected with said manipulating means to variably transmitmotion of said switch-connecting means to said manipulating means, or to variably transmit motion of said manipulating means to said switch-connecting means.

29. In a switch-stand, asupport, manipulating means, switch-connecting means, and mechanism comprising variable-radius rotary means, permanently connected with said manipulating means to variably transmit motion of said switch-connecting means to said manipulating means, or to variably transmit motion `of said manipulating means to said switch-connecting means.

30. In a switch-stand, a support, manipulating means, Yswitch-connecting means, and mechanism to transmit motion of said manipulating means to said switch-connecting means, comprising Contact elements remote :from each other and intermediate contact elements acting with different leverage than the leverage of said remote contact elements.

31. In a switch-stand, a support, manipulating means, switch-connecting means, and mechanism to transmit motion of said manipulating means to said switch-connecting means, comprising contact elements remote from each other and intermediate contact elements acting with less leverage from said manipulating means to said switch-connecting means than the leverage of said remote contact elements.

32. In a switch-stand, a support, manipulating means, switch-connecting means, mechanism comprising rotary means with contact elements remote from eachother and intermediate contact elements farther Jfrom the center of rotation than said remote contact elements, to variably transmit motion of said manipulating means to said switch-connecting means or variably transmit motion of said switch-connecting means to said manipulating means.v

33. In a switch-stand, a support, manipulating means, switch-connecting means, and mechanism to transmit motion of said manipulating means to said switch-connecting means having increased leverage to restrain said switch-connecting means at either end of the switch-throwing operation to a greater extent than in anintermediate part of said operation.

34.' In a switch-stand, a pinion segment comprising a series of teeth the terminal ones oit which are nearer the pinion rotation center than the intermediate ones.

35. In a switch-stand, a substantially semi-elliptical pinion segment.

36. In a switch-stand, a substantially semi-elliptical pinion segment having as its substantiallyY median adius the major axis ot' the ellipse.

3T. In a switch-stand, a substantially semi-elliptical pinion-segment, and a rack having a curved series ot teeth to mesh with the pinion segment teeth.

38. In a switch-stand, a substantially semi-elliptical pinion segment having as its substantially median radius the major axis ot the ellipse, and a rack having a curved series of teeth to mesh with the pinionsegment teeth.

39. In a switch-stand, in combination with a movable `part of said switch-stand, leverage means contacting with said movable part to hold the switch-stand in switchclosing condition, but reducing its switchholding leverage and increasing the degree of movement of said movable part incident to manual switch-opening movement of said leverage means.

4-0. In a switch'stand, switch-holding leverage means reducing its switch-holding leverage and increasing the degree of switchopening operation by manual switch-throwing operation of said switch-stand.

41. In a. switch-stand, switch-holding leverage means reducing its switch-holding leverage and increasing the degree of switchopening operation incident to beginning of manual switch-throwing operation of' said switch-stand, and increasing its switch-holding leverage and decreasing the degree of switch-opening operation incident to the ending of said operation.

42. In a switch-stand, a support, switchconnecting means swinging through a suitable switch-throwing angle, manipulating means swinging through substantially twice said switch-throwing angle, leverage mea-ns swinging directly with said switch-connecting means, leverage means swinging directly with said manipulating means and having substantially less than forty-six one-hundredths of the radius of said leverage means swinging with said switch-connecting means, and intermediate operatively connecting means whereby said switch-connecting-means and said manipulating means swing each other throughout their respective angles.

FRANK C. ANDER-SON. 

